Spotify will label ‘AI Persona’ profiles and exclude their music from recommendations

Source: Tech Crunch

Spotify will label ‘AI Persona’ profiles and exclude their music from recommendations

Startups

Spotify will begin labeling AI-generated artists with "AI Persona" tags in mid-September to distinguish them from human musicians. These profiles will be excluded from editorial and algorithmic recommendations unless users explicitly follow them. Spotify aims to combat low-quality AI content while supporting authentic artists. The labels focus on the artist's public identity rather than the music's creation, with a reporting tool for users coming soon.

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Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe is betting on EVs, robots, and autonomy all at once — he’ll explain why at Disrupt 2026

Startups

"Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco from October 13-15. He will discuss scaling hardware manufacturing and integrating AI into the physical world. Key topics include the launch of the R2 SUV, a roadmap for Level 4 autonomy by 2028, and the development of humanoid robotics via Mind Robotics to address labor shortages on Rivian's factory floors in Illinois.".

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FlightAware sues Kalshi over flight cancellation prediction markets

Startups

"FlightAware is suing prediction market Kalshi for allegedly using its data and branding without authorization to host gambling markets on flight cancellations. FlightAware claims it was unaware of these bets until media reports surfaced and argues that such markets could be manipulated, potentially creating safety risks for travelers and airport staff. The flight tracker is seeking a jury trial, though the specific amount of damages remains unspecified.".

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Kyoto Fusioneering starts work on key fusion power plant device

Startups

"Kyoto Fusioneering, a Japan-based fusion power supply specialist, is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to build Unity-3, a prototype fuel breeding device. Supported by U.S. Department of Energy and Tennessee grants, the company is moving its U.S. headquarters to Oak Ridge. Unity-3 will test breeding blanket technologies to generate tritium fuel, providing critical data for multiple fusion startups to refine their reactor designs.".

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[Update] LEAP India IPO Closes With 8.38X Oversubscription

Business

Logistics tech company LEAP India’s IPO closed with a strong 8.38X oversubscription, with investors bidding for 96.32 crore shares against 11.49 crore offered. Qualified institutional buyers showed the highest interest at 16.84X. The company, valued at ₹7,004.5 crore, is tentatively scheduled to debut on the NSE and BSE on August 14. LEAP India reported a 66% jump in FY26 net profit, reaching ₹62.3 crore.

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Bumble ditches its rule that kept men from making the first move

Startups

"Bumble has eliminated its signature requirement that women send the first message, now allowing any matched user to initiate conversations. The app also extended the response window from 24 to 72 hours to reduce user pressure. CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd described the shift as an evolution driven by user feedback. These changes come as Bumble faces declining revenue and broader industry challenges, including user fatigue and market competition.".

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Anthropic Adds Watermarks In Claude Content As Deepfakes Run Amok

Business

Anthropic is implementing default watermarking across all Claude products worldwide to distinguish AI-generated content from human work. Using embedded text watermarks and C2PA-standard metadata, the company aims to enhance transparency and combat deepfakes. While Google already employs SynthID, OpenAI has yet to release a text watermark. Despite these efforts, experts warn that such marks are probabilistic signals and can be bypassed through heavy editing.

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North Korean remote IT staffer worked for US government agency, says FBI

Startups

"The FBI is investigating how a North Korean national secured employment at an unnamed U.S. federal agency. This rare breach follows warnings about North Korean IT workers using fraudulent identities to obtain remote positions, steal data, and fund the regime's nuclear program. While strict vetting usually prevents such incidents, the Justice Department recently charged a facilitator who helped a hacker pose as an American for the FAA.".

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What comes after the smartphone? Amazon’s Panos Panay will make his case at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Startups

Amazon SVP of Devices and Services Panos Panay will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 from October 13-15 in San Francisco. Drawing on his extensive experience at Microsoft and Amazon, Panay will discuss the evolution of hardware and the integration of generative AI. He will provide exclusive insights into the future of devices beyond smartphones, specifically focusing on the development and trajectory of Amazon's Alexa+ assistant.

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Supply chain disruptions push ideaForge into losses in Q1FY27

Startups

ideaForge Technology reported a loss of Rs 2.6 crore for Q1 FY27, attributed to global supply chain disruptions and component shortages. Despite a 436.6% year-on-year revenue increase to Rs 68.58 crore, earnings fell sequentially from Q4 FY26. The company maintains a strong order book exceeding ₹300 crore and expects procurement to accelerate in the second half of the year, following a milestone of one million customer flights.

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Anthropic says it will watermark text generated by its AI models

Startups

"Anthropic will watermark text and files generated by its AI models, including Claude, to comply with the EU AI Act’s Transparency Code. Effective August 2, this requirement ensures AI-generated content is identifiable. The watermarking applies to all new models and will be extended to older ones, persisting through copy-pasting. Other major AI firms, such as Google and OpenAI, have also committed to these transparency standards.".

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Table Space’s FY26 Loss Shrinks 74%, Revenue Crosses ₹2,200 Cr

Business

Managed office provider Table Space has filed for an IPO, seeking to raise up to ₹800 crore through a fresh issue and offload 6.55 crore shares via an offer for sale. In FY26, the company significantly narrowed its net loss by 74% to ₹403.4 crore, while operating revenue grew 66% to ₹2,262.3 crore. The funds will be used for debt repayment, acquisitions, and general corporate purposes.

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India’s top 300 family businesses valued at $1.46T, rivaling global economies

Startups

India's top 300 family businesses are now valued at $1.46 trillion, making them equivalent to the world's 18th-largest economy. Despite market volatility, their collective value grew by 27.5%. Led by the Ambani family, these enterprises employ 5.4 million people and contribute 17% of India's corporate taxes. The sector is seeing increased professionalization, a rise in first-generation wealth, and growing female leadership within these influential firms.

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How an IIT Delhi startup is putting AI inside drones, sensors and satellites

Startups

"CYRAN AI Solutions, an IIT Delhi spin-off founded by Professor Manan Suri, develops neuromorphic hardware and software for on-device AI processing. By integrating memory and computation, the company provides efficient, sovereign solutions for geospatial, industrial, and educational applications. Recognized with several defense awards, Cyran has secured contracts with the Indian Army and Safran Aircraft Engines to enhance aerospace and defense capabilities through real-time situational awareness.".

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How a Bengaluru company turns fruit waste into everyday product ingredients

Startups

"BacAlt Biosciences, a Bengaluru-based startup, aims to replace synthetic petrochemical polymers in consumer products with biodegradable alternatives. Using a cost-effective, non-sterile fermentation process on agricultural waste, the company produces ReRaw, a biopolymer blend. Having raised Rs 18 crore from investors including Avaana Capital and Lubrizol InnoVentures, BacAlt targets personal and home care markets, though its planned June 2026 commercial launch date has passed without announcement.".

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How two engineering students built a health screening device for clinics with no laboratory

Startups

Perkant Tech, founded in 2020, developed Abhay Parimiti, an AI-integrated medical device claiming to provide rapid health assessments for various conditions, including pre-diabetes and anemia. Despite raising Rs 6.6 crore in seed funding in April 2025, the company lacks peer-reviewed clinical validation and public regulatory clearance from India's CDSCO. While holding an Indian patent, its commercial launch and deployment figures remain unreported as of mid-2024.

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slice Swings To ₹51 Cr Profit In Q1, Total Income Rises 39% YoY

Business

slice Small Finance Bank reported a profit after tax of ₹50.9 crore in Q1 FY27, rebounding from a ₹10.1 crore loss in the same quarter last year. Total income grew 38.6% to ₹413.8 crore, while deposits nearly doubled to ₹5,765 crore. The bank's gross loan book rose 55% to ₹5,098 crore, and asset quality improved, with the gross NPA ratio falling to 4.36% from 6.31%.

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Matrimony Q1 Profit Doubles YoY To ₹19 Cr, Revenue up 13%

Business

Matrimony reported a significant increase in its Q1 FY27 consolidated net profit, which more than doubled year-on-year to ₹19.1 crore. Operating revenue grew 13% to ₹130.5 crore, driven by a 14% rise in matchmaking business revenue to ₹129.5 crore. The company added 2.72 lakh paid subscribers, increasing matchmaking billing by 8% to ₹135.3 crore, while total expenses remained largely flat at ₹111.9 crore for the quarter.

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Deeptech startup Discovered Materials raises $9M in Seed round

Startups

Deeptech startup Discovered Materials, founded by IIT-Madras alumni, has raised $9 million in seed funding led by Lightspeed India Partners. The company utilizes AI agents to accelerate the discovery of new semiconductor materials, specifically targeting thermal management bottlenecks in AI chips. By integrating simulation and experimental validation, the startup aims to compress years of R&D into days. Funding will support team expansion and scaling their AI research.

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AvenuesAI Q1 Profit Jumps 45% YoY To ₹85 Cr, Revenue More Than Doubles

Business

AvenuesAI, formerly Infibeam Avenues, reported a 45% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to ₹84.8 crore for Q1 FY27. Operating revenue surged 109% to ₹2,680.4 crore, reflecting growth in its digital payments business. Total income reached ₹2,708.8 crore, although total expenses more than doubled to ₹2,624 crore. Sequentially, net profit saw a slight decrease of 5% from the previous quarter's ₹89 crore.

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